Liner for textile bobbins



J. LOCKE LINER FOR TEXTILE BOBBINS 0 g nal Flled A g 2 1949 Dec. 30, 1952 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 LINER FOR TEXTILE BOBBINS Jack Locke, Greenville, S. 0., assignor to U. S. Bobbin & Shuttle Company, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Original application August 2, 1949, Serial No. 108,126. Divided and this application February 16, 1950, Serial No. 144,543

. 6 Claims.

This invention pertains to textile bobbins, and while herein for convenience illustrated as embodied in a wooden spinning bobbin, it is equally applicable to other types of yarn package support, including twister and winding bobbins, tubes, cones, etc., and whether of wood or other materials, for example, indurated fiber, paper, plastic or the like, the invention relating more especially to a novel liner element, for example, a ferrule, bushing or shield for the tip or base portion of the bobbin, and to a bobbin provided with such improved liner element, the present application being a division of a copending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 108,126, filed August 2, 1949, by Jack Locke, for Liner for Textile Bobbins.

In accordance with the present invention, the improved lining element may be a simple thimble or sleeve wholly Within the bobbin bore and designed to provide a wear-resistant, friction surface for contact with the spindle upon which the bobbin is mounted, or alternatively, the lining element may comprise, in addition to said internal thimble or sleeve, a part or parts designed and arranged to shield from mechanical injury the upper or lower end, and, if desired, a portion of the outer surface of the bobbin.

A textile bobbin is customarily driven by placing it upon an upright rotating spindle. While it has been proposed to provide positive interengaging parts, in the nature of clutch elements, for connecting the bobbin to the spindle, the custo'mary practice is to employ a smooth spindle which tapers slightly or which has a tapering base portion or acorn, or a tapering, bobbincontacting portion near its tip, and to rely upon the frictional engagement of this tapering portion with the Wall of the bobbin liner element to drive the bobbin.

In donning the bobbin, it is customary merely to drop the bobbin onto the spindle, the taper of the bobbin-contacting portion of the spindle being slight so that the mere weight of the bobbin in dropping produces a wedging action sufficient to insure the desired frictional engagement. In donning an empty bobbin it is customary to interpose the supply end of yarn between the spindle and bobbin so that the yarn will be caused to wrap around the bobbin as the latter is driven by the spindle. However, since the spindle and bore of the bobbin are both smooth and accurately circular ther is no clearance for the yarn end, and frequently the yarn is pinched piecing up.

hard stuck bobbin from the spindle.

Yarn is usually wound under substantial tension, and it seems probable that the internal diameter of the bobbin may be slightly decreased during winding as a result of the pressure exerted by the multiple windings of yarn. Moreover, the weight of the bobbin and yarn package, assisted by the high frequency, small amplitude vibration incident to the high speed drive of the spindle, tends to cause the bobbin to descend and become more and more firmly wedged on the tapering portion of the spindle. Whatever the cause, the full bobbin tends to bind and stick to the spindle and it is often very difiicult to remove it. In doffing the bobbin, the attendant often grasps the yarn package on the bobbin, since only the tip of the filled bobbin is exposed, and exerts the requisite force to detach the bobbin from the spindle. If a bobbin sticks, as above suggested, the result may be that the outer layers of yarn on the yarn package are broken down, with attendant annoyance and loss of yarn. If care is not exercised in the application of the requisite force, the spindl itself may be bent so that it no longer runs true, thus increasing vibration and wear. In any event, substantial time is consumed in the attempt to remove a As the attendants pay is usually on a piece work basis, the tendency is to dofi the bobbin in the quick.- est way possible, which often contributes to the damage above suggested.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel liner element for a bobbin or the like capable of use with the conventional tapering spindle or spindle acorn and providing for frictional drive contact, and so designed that by its use the dofling of the bobbin is facilitated. A further object is to provide a novel'liner element of simple and inexpensive construction which may be applied to conventional bobbins without change in the bobbin structure and which provides sufiicient frictional driving contact with the spindle but which, at the same time, may be removed from the spindle by the application of force of so low intensity that there is little danger of damage to the yarn package, spindle or bobbin, even though the operator be careless in the manner in which the force is applied.

A further object is to provide a liner for a hub:

bin which is so devised as to have an axially discontinuous surface for contact with the spindle on which the bobbin is mounted. A further object is to provide a liner for a bobbin which is so designed as to have a plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially continuous, axially narrow contact surfaces for engagement with the spindle. A further object is to provide a bobbin liner having a spindl contacting surface which is inwardly convex in any radial plane of the liner and which provides an annular line of contact with. the spindle which approximates a geometric line in axial width. A further object is to provide a bobbin liner having a plurality of axially spaced, spindle-contacting surfaces both located well below the center of height of the bobbin butt and each inwardly convex in any radial plane of the liner and which collectively provide the only driving contact between the spindle and bobbin.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical section, to large scale, showing a spinning bobbin mounted on a spindle, the bobbin being provided with a liner in accordance with th present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the liner of Fig. l, apart from the bobbin;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, diametrical section through the liner of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary radial section, to larger scale than Fig. 3, indicating the points of contact between the spindle and liner element; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, diametrical section through the butt of a bobbin having a liner ele ment generally imilar to that of Fig. 1 but modifled to provide a shield for the exterior of the butt.

Referring to thedrawings, the character S indicates th blade portion of a spinning spindle having its base mounted in a bolster casing C and provided with a whirl W for the reception of' the spinning band. Just above the whirl the spindle is provided with the usual tapered acorn A designed for frictional driving engagement with the liner element of the bobbin. The bobbin comprises the tubular barrel or body portion B, usually of Wood, having an axial bore X for the reception of the spindle S and having the enlarged butt or base portion T' which, in the automatic loom bobbin here illustrated, has spaced, peripheral rings R. The lower portion of the axial bore X in the bobbin is. enlarged to provide a chamber which receives the liner E. While, herein, the liner E is more especially illustrated and described as located at the lower end or butt of the bobbin, it is contemplated that when the bobbin is to be driven by engagement with the upper end or tip of the spindle, the liner E" will be near the upper end or tip of the bobbin, or a linermay be provided at both base and tip, if desired.

As here illustrated, this liner is a unitary piece of thin sheet metal, reduced to tubular form by a punch-press or extrusion operation. Usually the metal is brass, and the liner, thus formed, comprises the tubular sleeve-like body portion 1 (usually cylindrical but sometimes with a slight taper) which is designed to fit with a snug sliding' fit within th chamber in the base of the bobbin. customarily both the inner and outer surfaces of this body portion are smooth. and circumferentially continuous. The lower end of the liner sleeve, is outwardly flanged at'2 to pro vide a smooth, flaring entrance to facilitate the entry of the acorn of the spindle into the sleeve. After the liner has been inserted within the chamber in the bobbin butt, it is fixedly secured in. position in. any usual way, for example, by

indenting the liner from th inside by means of a suitable tool so as to drive portions of the liner outwardly into the Wood of the bobbin butt. As thus far described, the liner is of generally conventional type and mounted and secured in the bobbin in a customary manner.

In accordance with the present invention, the liner E has the cylindrical body portion l and 1e bottom, out-turned flange 2 as above described. At a point above the flange 2, and at a distance, for example of an inch, more or less, from the lower edge of the liner, there is provided a circumferential internal groove 1 preferably extending completely around the periphery of the, liner. This groove is desirably formed by rolling, pressure, spinning or some similar mechanical, operation whereby the metal of the tubular liner is deformed to provide the groove. As shown, the depth of the groove, measured outwardly from the original cylindrical surface, is approximately equal to the thickness of the metal, the groove thus being veryshallow. As illustrated the metal between this groove! and the lower edge of the liner is so shaped as a concomitant to the formation of th groove, 1 as to provide a surface 8 (Fig; 3) which is uninterrupted circumferentially of the liner and which, in any radial plane of the liner, is inwardly con.- vex, such surface making frictional driving contact with the spindle when the bobbin is operatively mounted on the spindle. Vvhen this liner is arranged within the bobbin and secured in place in the customary manner it is substantially rigid and thus the internal diameter of. the surface 8, measured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the liner, is substantially constant, that is to say its diameter does not change. When the bobbin is placed on the spindle, the acorn of the bobbin engages the surface S of the liner, the contact. occurring'at the axially narrow area 9- (Fig. 4). Since the outer surface of the acorn at this part is substantially cylindrical, the contact of the inwardly convex surface 8' with the acorn should, in theory at least, be a line contact, that is to say an annular surface which is a geometric line, without width axially of the liner, although extending uninterruptedly' circumferentially of the liner. In practice, the contact of the liner with the spindle actually does. closely approximate a line contact. Due to the fact that the taper of the spindle acorn is very slight, for example a taper of. 0.045 inch, per inch of axial length, the acorn usually also contacts the interiorsurface of the liner just above the groove '5, for example as indicated at iii in Fig. 4'. This circumferential contact area at if} is likewise very narrow axially; and like the contact at the point 9, approximates a line contact. Evidently the formation of the groove l causes a slight inward bulging of the metal at the area If! so that at this point the metal is actually convex inwardly at any radial plane of the liner, ven though the body of the liner is initially cylindrical.

It may be observed, by inspection of the drawings, that both circumferentially extending lines of contact between the liner and spindle are close to the lower end of the bobbin and, in fact; well below the center of height of the bobbin butt. As thes axially narrow contact surfaces are the only places at which the spindle and bobbin are in engagement and as these contact lines are very close together and very near the lower end of the bobbin, the latter is quite fre to assume its own axis of rotation when driven by the spindle, thus reducing vibration. At the same time this very limited area of contact, although providing the necessary frictional drive, and which is located very close to the lower extremity of the bobbin, makes it possible to doif the bobbin without damage to the yarn package or spindle.

This arrangement of the two spaced, circumferentially extending, independent surfaces 9 and Ill provides ample frictional contact for driving the bobbin.

While this novel liner is very simple in con-' struction and structurally differs but slightly from liners commonly employed, it has been found in practice that it avoids most of the diffrculties commonly present with respect to the doifing of bobbins from the spindle, and is greatly preferred by spinning frame attendants, due to the fact that dofling, as a result of the use of this liner, is so much easier and speedier than with the older types of bobbin liner.

It may be noted that the actual contact surface is discontinuous, that is to say, it is divided into independent areas spaced axially from each other, the actual contact areas being very narrow. However, they provide the requisite amount of frictional engagement with the spindle for driving but have the effect, Whatever the cause may be, of enabling the ready removal of the filled bobbin from the spindle with resultant speeding up of the doffing operation and substantial lessening of the damage to the yarn package, bobbin and spindle, which is a common occurrence when bobbins having liners of usual prior types are employed.

It should be noted that the improved liner herein described is designed for pure frictional drive and does not rely upon spring action, nor comprise positive drive element such as would necessitate the provision of complemental drive elements such as clutch-segments, lugs or the like on the spindle. Thus, the present invention is useful with the customary and very widely used types of spindle wherein friction drive is depended upon for rotating the bobbin.

While a desirable embodiment of the invention has been described by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any other modifications which fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bobbin liner for use in a textile bobbin of the kind having an elongate, rigid barrel portion provided with an axial bore for the reception of an upright, rotating, driving spindle, and a butt or base at the lower end of the barrel portion and which is of an external diameter greater than that of the barrel portion, said liner comprising a rigid, substantially unyielding, substantially cylindrical, tubular body portion of an external diameter such as to fit snugly into one end of the axial bore of the bobbin with which it is associated, said liner having a single, circumferentially extending, internal groove so spaced from one of its ends that when the liner is assembled with the bobbin said groove is approximately of an inch from the adjacent end of the bobbin, the liner having a circumferentially extending, internal spindle-contacting surface intermediate said groove in the liner and the adjacent end of the bobbin, said spindle-contacting surface being inwardly convex in any radial plane of the liner thereby providing an annulus of contact with the spindle, on which the bobbin is mounted, which approximates a geometric line in axial width.

2. A bobbin liner for use in a textile bobbin of the kind having an elongate, rigid barrel portion provided with an axial bore, for the reception of an upright, rotating, driving spindle and a butt or base at the lower end of the barrel portion and which is of an external diameter greater than that of the barrel portion, the liner having a single, circumferentially extending, internal groove spaced approximately of an inch from its lower end. a circumferentially extending, spindleeontaeting surface interposed between said groove and the lower end of the liner, a second circumferentially extending, spindle-contacting surface immediately above said groove, each of said spindle-contacting surfaces being inwardly convex in any radial plane of the liner, thereby providing circumferentially extending contact annuli each of an axial width approximating a geometric line and which contact the spindle with which the bobbin is operatively associated, said annuli of contact providing the only driving connection between the bobbin and the spindle upon which'the bobbin is mounted.

' 3. A sheet metal bobbin liner for use in a textile bobbin of the kind having an elongate; rigid barrel portion provided with an axial bore, for the reception of an upright, rotating driving spindle, and a butt, of greater external diameter than said barrel portion at the lower end of the latter, said liner comprising a rigid, substantially unyielding, substantially cylindrical, tubular body portion of an external diameter such that the liner fits snugly within the lower end of the axial bore of the bobbin with which the liner is associated, the body portion of the liner having a single, ciroumferenti-ally extending, internal groove adjacent to but spaced from its extreme lower end, the inner surface of said body portion, imme-- diately above and below said groove, respectively, comprising uninterrupted, circumferentially extending, spindle-contacting portions, each of said portions being inwardly convex in any radial. plane of the liner and each providing an annulus of contact with the spindle, upon which the bobbin is mounted, which approximates a geometric line in axial width, the upper of said contact portions of the inner surface of the liner being below the center of height of the bobbin butt.

4. A sheet metal bobbin liner for use in a textile bobbin which comprises an elongate, tubular barrel portion having an axial bore, for the reception of an upright, rotating spindle, and a butt of a diameter greater than that of the barrel portion, said liner comprising a rigid, substantially unyielding sleeve-like body portion designed to fit tightly into the lower end of the axial bore of such a bobbin, the body portion of the liner having a single, circumferentiallyextending, internal groove adjacent to but spaced from its extreme lower end, the depth of said groove, as measured outwardly from the original cylindrical surface of the body portion of the liner, approximating the thickness of the material of the liner, the inner surface of the body portion of the liner, immediately above and below said groove, respectively, having spindle-contacting portions, each of said spindle-contacting portions extending uninterruptedly circumferentially of the liner, each of said spindle-contacting portions of the interior surface of the liner being inwardly convex, thereby providing annular contact areas which are narrow axially of the liner and collectively provide the only driving contact between the liner and a spindle upon which the bobbin may be mounted, both of said spindlel contacting. surfaces being below the center of height: of the bobbin. butt 5 A sheet metal bobbin liner for use, in a textile bobbin of the kind having an elongate, rigid barrel portion provided with an axial bore for the reception of an upright, rotating driving spindle, said liner comprising a rigid, substantially unyielding, substantially cylindrical, tubular body portion of an external diameter such that the liner fits snugly within the lower end of the axial bore of the bobbin with which the liner is associated, the body portion of the liner having a single, circumferentially extending, internal groove spaced approximately of an inch from the extreme lower end of said body portion, the inner surface of said body portion of the liner, immediately above and below said groove, respectively, comprising axially narrow, spindlecontacting portions which are separated only by the width of the groove and each. being inwardly convex in, any radial planeof the liner and each, because of the rigidity of the liner, being of con.- stant, unchanging diameter, measured, respectively, in planes perpendicular to the axis of the liner, said contact portions of the inner surface of the liner providing the entire drive contact between the bobbin and a spindle upon which the bobbin is mounted.

6. In a yarn package support which includes an elongate, rigid barrel portion having an axial bore and a butt at the lower end of the. barrel portion which is of greater external diameter than the barrel portion, the lower part of the axial bore being of greater diameter than the upper part of saidbore to provide a chamber for c the reception. of a liner, said support. being designed tobe mounted upon an upright, rotating, driving spindle having asmooth-surfaced bobbindriving acorn for frictional contact with a bobbin 8. liner arranged within said chamber in the lower part of the barrel portion of, the support, said liner having a tubular, substantially cylindrical body portion which fits tightly within said chamber, said body portion of the liner having a pair of axially spaced. frictionally extending contact surfaces, each of a constant diameter, as measured in a plane perpendicular to. the axis of the liner, said contact surfacesbeing separated. only by the width of a groove in the substance of the liner intervening between said surfaces, said groove extending circumferentially of the liner, each of said contact surfaces being inwardly convex in any radial plane of the liner and each making contact with the acorn of the spindle on which the bobbin is mounted, the annuli of contact of each of said contact surfaces with the spindle being of an axial width approximating a geometric line, said annuli of contact between the liner and spindle providing the only driving engagement between the spindle and bobbin.

JACKLOCKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UN ITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date 44,016 Reynolds Aug. 30, 1864 127,748, Draper June 11, 1872 1,585,637 Anderson .May 25, 1926 FOREIGN' PATENTS Number Country Date 12,636 Great Britain July 25, 1891 97,846 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1923 442,489 Germany Mar. 31, 1927 

